On a tragic spring evening, the life of 20-year-old Makayla A. Gregory of Ashland, Virginia, was cut short by gunfire. The date was May 9, 2020, and in the Whitcomb Court neighborhood of Richmond's East End, residents heard the alarming sound of random shots. Police were dispatched to the 2000 block of Sussex Street at approximately 10:32 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered a vehicle that had been damaged by the gunfire. Near the car, they found Makayla, a female, and another adult woman, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
Emergency services transported both victims to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Makayla succumbed to her injuries and passed away. The other woman was listed in critical condition with a life-threatening injury. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young woman remembered fondly by friends and family as a beloved All-Star softball champion, whose life was full of promise.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and the Richmond Police Department soon identified a suspect. Justin J. Diggs, a 24-year-old man, was arrested in connection with the fatal incident. During the event, Diggs himself had sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. Authorities charged him with several serious offenses, including aggravated malicious wounding, attempted robbery, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The police continued to seek information from the public as their investigation into the senseless act of violence that claimed a young life remained ongoing.
